Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UN General Assembly update

James Cleverly: The Prime Minister led the UK delegation to the High Level segment of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA77) which took place in New York between 19 and 26 September.The delegation travelled to UNGA immediately after attending the State Funeral for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The UN and its member states joined the global expressions of grief and respect following the death of Her Late Majesty, with UN Secretary-General Guterres leading the tributes. Her Late Majesty had a long relationship with the UN, from the founding meetings in London in 1946 through to her visit in 2010 when she remarked that the UN had become “a real force for common good”.The Foreign Secretary represented the UK at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine, attended a separate event on strengthening co-operation on accountability for atrocities committed in the conflict, and spoke at the launch of the First Lady of Ukraine’s foundation. The Foreign Secretary hosted a UK-Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial and attended the Secretary-General’s Global Crisis Response Group meeting, as well as meetings focused on global food security and the Indo-Pacific.He met counterparts from Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Ministers Ford, Ahmad and Goldsmith participated in a wide range of events focused on international development, education, the environment, Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict and various regional issues, and met a number of counterparts.These events supported the Prime Minister’s and the wider delegation’s programmes – including a range of bilateral meetings and roundtables with business leaders in New York. The delegation engaged with Presidents Biden and Macron, as well as Prime Minister Jugnauth of Mauritius, Prime Minister Kishida of Japan, Prime Minister Lapid of Israel, President Nauseda of Lithuania, President Erdogan of Turkey and President Von der Leyen of the European Commission.To mark the UK’s support for our Ukrainian allies, the Prime Minister joined the Ukrainian First Lady and the Ukrainian Prime Minister at an exhibition on accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine, maintaining the international spotlight on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. She also set out to the UN General Assembly how the UK would use its network of partnerships across the globe, such as the Commonwealth and organisations like the G7, to strengthen the principles of sovereignty and self-determination, and to promote freedom and democracy in all parts of the world.

Treasury

Tax exemptions for compensation payments paid by the Post Office for Overturned Historical Convictions

Richard Fuller: This House is aware that the Post Office Horizon scandal has had a devastating impact on the lives of many postmasters since it began over 20 years ago. The Government previously announced funding for final settlement compensation payments for postmasters who have had their convictions overturned. So far, the vast majority of postmasters who have had their convictions quashed have each received an interim compensation payment of up to £100,000. The Post Office, supported by Government, is now working towards agreeing final settlements with the claimants who have come forward.The Government wants to see these postmasters with quashed convictions compensated fairly and swiftly. That is why the Government is announcing today that victims will pay no income tax, capital gains tax, National Insurance contributions, inheritance tax or VAT on compensation payments for Overturned Historical Convictions, including on payments already made. The Government will legislate to exempt these payments in due course where necessary.HM Revenue and Customs will not collect any tax that may have been due on payments made already up to the date the legislation takes overriding effect.With the Government being the sole share shareholder in the Post Office, we will continue to work across Government and with the Post Office to ensure the postmasters get the full compensation they deserve.

Prime Minister

Cabinet Committees

Elizabeth Truss: Today I am publishing an updated Cabinet Committee list. I have placed a copy of the new list in the Libraries of both Houses.

Department for International Trade

Trade Negotiations Update

Kemi Badenoch: The first round of United Kingdom-Israel Free Trade Agreement negotiations took place between 12 and 20 September.In parallel, the third round of United Kingdom-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations commenced on 12 September and concluded on 16 September.Following the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, these rounds proceeded, with appropriate adjustments.The round of negotiations with Israel was conducted in a hybrid fashion; a small group of United Kingdom officials travelled to Jerusalem for in-person discussions, with further officials attending virtually from the United Kingdom. During this initial round, talks focused on gathering insights on key interests and priorities across policy areas as well as building a shared understanding of each other’s initial positions. Technical discussions focused on 29 policy areas in over 50 sessions.A new agreement with Israel – with services and innovation at its heart - will build upon our existing Trade and Partnership Agreement. It will cement our relationship with a rapidly growing economy and take our trading relationship to the next level. It will support United Kingdom jobs, and update outdated trade rules, unleashing our high-tech innovative economies.The negotiations with Canada were conducted in a fully virtual format. Technical discussions were held across 26 policy areas across over 50 separate sessions.Talks focused on reaffirming the United Kingdom’s positions, having tabled and presented text across the majority of chapters in the previous round. The United Kingdom’s negotiating team made progress on understanding areas of policy convergence and divergence with Canada. They agreed text where possible and in the United Kingdom’s interests and objectives to support economic growth.The negotiations continue to reflect a shared ambition to secure a progressive deal which looks to build on the United Kingdom-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement, and strengthens our existing trading relationship, already worth over £21 billion in 2021.We are clear that any deals we sign will be in the best interests of the British people and the United Kingdom economy. We will not compromise on our high environmental and labour protections, public health, animal welfare and food standards, and we will maintain our right to regulate in the public interest. We are also clear that during these negotiations, the NHS and the services it provides is not on the table.We are working towards holding a second and fourth round of negotiations with Israel and Canada respectively in due course.Parliament will be kept updated as these negotiations progress.